Directors Guide to Care in Scotland

Director's Comprehensive Guide — Nursing Care Home for Older Adults (Scotland)

Everything you need to know to run your care home, in one place.

This guide has been written for anyone acquiring, registering or directing a nursing care home for older adults in Scotland. Whether you are a first-time owner stepping into the sector or an experienced director looking for a single, reliable reference, it brings together the full picture of what is expected of you — from the regulatory bodies you answer to, through to the day-to-day operational standards your service must meet.

Across 15 chapters and a set of practical appendices, the guide covers the regulatory landscape and how Scotland's key bodies — the Care Inspectorate, SSSC, NMC, NHS boards and local authorities — work together and what each expects from you. It walks you through the legislation that underpins your service, the registration and inspection process, how your home is assessed and graded, workforce requirements, staffing, admissions, reporting obligations, quality improvement, premises and environment standards, governance and leadership, financial sustainability, medication management, and working with families and the wider community.

The appendices include ready-to-use templates, a key contacts directory and a legislation summary so you can put what you've read straight into practice.

Current to 2026 Scottish legislation and regulatory standards. Delivered as an instant PDF download.